Invisible indirect lighting dramatization screen



Sept. 8, 1936. E. H. NELSON INVISIBLE INDIRECT LIGHTING DRAMATIZATION SCREEN Filed July 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor I Zi'rnwZEZZMmm dttorneg Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES INVISIBLE INDIRECT LIGHTING DRAMATIZATION SCREEN Ernest Emil Henry Nels'on,'Hot Springs National Park, Ark.

Application July 23, 1935, Serial No. 32,812 i 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to screens and the like adapted particularly for dramatizing such as in providing a backing for caskets and the like, and more particularly for producing an indirect lighting from sources of light which are hidden and carried by the screen.

An object of the present invention is to provide a screen which may comprise .a desired number of panels andto equip each panel with 30 a detachable lamp box adapted to be removably positioned on the screen and with the lamp boxes and their attachments so constructed that a lamp box may be mounted on each panel of the screen and wherein all of the lamp boxes may be interconnected in series for lighting the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide certain improved structural features in the screen itself wherein the screen may comprise a number of movably connected panels adapted to be placed in straight line or various angular positions-and wherein means is provided for supporting the panels in upright position. This object also embodies lighting boxes individual to the screen panels and so constructed and mounted as to admit of the adjustments of the panels into various angular or straight line positions and wherein the lighting boxes may be removed or detached from the panels so that the screen may be collapsed into small form for transportation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a screen structure which is adaptable to modernistic design and to provide lighting boxes which are so constructed as to blend into the design and to be firmly supported in position and readily removed when desired from the screen.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the screen constructed according to the present invention, the usual drapes being omitted.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the 50 line 4-4 of Figure 1 and looking down toward the bottom of the screen.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of the top portion of a screen panel, showing in section a lighting or lamp box mounted there- Figure 6 is a detail top plan view of one of the lamp boxes.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 'l! of Figure 6 through the lamp box, showing the wiring arrangement, and

Figure 8 is an end elevation of one of the lamp boxes, showing fragmentarily in section the adjacent portion of the screen panel.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a screen made up of a plurality of panels ID. Each panel It] may be constructed of wood and is substantially rectangular in form with parallel uprights between the lower portions of which is disposed a lower cross piece H and between the upper end portions of which is disposed at top cross piece l2. Angle or corner blocks [3 are disposed in the corners of the frame It) to reinforce the frame, and these corner blocks may have any suitable configuration to blend with the general design of the screen. The opposite ends of the top cross piece l2 may be stepped as shown to impart a modernistic design to the screen, and advantage is taken of this stepped portion for supporting a lighting box at the top of the panel. As shown to advantage in Figures 6 to 8, the lighting box comprises a box body I which may be in one piece having a lower flat surface l5 adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the cross piece l2 and which is provided with a wider upper portion as shown which extends beyond the opposite sides of the surface l5 and provides at opposite ends lugs or projections I6 which are spaced apart at their inner portions to provide recesses or openings I! through which the upwardly stepped ends of the cross piece l2 are adapted to fit.

Thus, the lamp box l4 may be fitted downwardly upon the cross piece I2 with the recesses I! in register with the stepped ends of the cross piece so that the stepped ends are engaged between the lugs I6 to hold the lamp box firmly from tilting. The cross piece l2 itself provides the support to engage beneath the body block I4 of the lamp casing and thus firmly supports the latter. The body block I 4 is recessed in its upper side to provide an upwardly flaring compartment or chamber in which is fitted a reflector lining 18 of suitable material which preferably extends from the bottom of the chamber to the upper edge of the block and with its opposite sides fiaring upwardly. The end walls of the block I4 are used to support lamp sockets IS in which are fitted lamps 20 of suitable wattage to provide the required degree of light. The lamp sockets IQ of each lamp box l4 are interconnected by electric wires 2| and the wires are extended in substantially the form of cables 22 from opposite ends of the lamp box and are equipped with separable connectors 23, shown in Figure 3, for connecting a line of the lamp boxes together in series. The end box l4 may be provided with an extension cord 24 carrying a plug 25 adapted to be inserted in the service socket of the usual house wiring system.

It will be observed from Figures 3 and 5 particularly that the lighting or lamp boxes 14 are of less length than that of the panels upon which they are mounted so that the panels may be readily swung in either direction about their interconnecting double acting hinges 26 which are used to connect any desired number of the panels in series to make up the screen. The top cross pieces I2 are provided at opposite sides with rows of eyes 21 which project but a slight distance beyond the opposite sides of the cross pieces and are adapted to receive hooks or the like of drapes adapted to be hung at one or both sides of the screen, depending upon the use to which the screen is placed. It may here be noted that the screen may be used at one side only such as in serving as the backing or ground for a casket, or the screen may be used in display rooms as a partition wherein both sides of the screen are called into play and drapes of different characters may be suspended at opposite sides of the screen.

The lamp boxes l4 open upwardly and aided by the reflectors I 8 the light rays are projected upon the ceiling or the like above the screen and are thus reflected and diffused downwardly so as to impart the desired soft lighting effects.

Detachable feet 28 may be used and may comprise, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, substantially T-shape blocks having their shank portions extending upwardly and provided with transverse recesses 29 through which the lower cross pieces H of the panels are adapted to engage. The sides of the feet 28 may be stepped upwardly to blend with the general modernistic design of the screen. These feet are employed particularly when the screen is extended out in a straight line as shown in the present drawings. Of course when the screen is adjusted with the panels H] in relative angular relation, the lower ends of the side pieces of the panels serve as feet and hold the screen from tilting. Any desired number of the feet 28 may be employed and they may be placed to advantage along the screen.

When it is desired to transport the screen it is only necessary to separate the couplings 23 and to lift the lighting boxes upwardly from the cross pieces I2 of their respective panels. The lighting boxes may thus be separately and independently transported and cared for and the panel sections of the screen may thus be folded back andforth' one upon the other into compact form so that the screen may be quickly and easily removed or readjusted.

It is evident that when the screen is set up for use it may be placed in a straight line position, as shown or in any suitable position of adjustment incident to the double acting hinges 26. The lighting boxes are now merely slipped down into place upon the upper cross pieces l2 with the lugs l6 of the lamp boxes engaging the opposite sides of the enlarged stepped ends of the cross pieces l2. The separable fasteners are now interconnected and the plug 25 may be inserted in the service socket to supply the current. Of course any suitable wiring arrangement, switches or the like than as shown may be utilized to accomplish the features of this invention.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dramatization screen comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels, each of said panels having a cross piece in its upper end with enlarged end portions, a lamp box detachably seated upon each cross piece and having apertured flanges at opposite ends adapted to embrace the large ends of the cross piece to hold the box on the cross piece, and separable electric means interconnecting the lamp boxes.

2. A dramatization screen comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels, each panel having a cross piece at its upper end and the cross piece having upwardly stepped end portions, .a lamp box seated upon each cross piece and having recesses in opposite ends for receiving therein the upwardly stepped ends of the cross piece to interlock the lamp box on the cross piece, lamps in the lamp box, and electrical connections between the lamp boxes for illuminating the same.

3. A dramatization screen comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels, said panels having cross pieces at their upper ends with drape supporting eyes at opposite sides of the cross pieces and upwardly stepped ends for the cross pieces, a series of lamp boxes removably seated on said cross pieces and having notches in opposite ends adapted to embrace the enlarged ends of the cross pieces for holding the lamp box thereon, lamps in said lamp boxes, wiring carried by the lamp boxes between the lamps and separable connectors between the wiring of the adjacent lamp boxes.

4. A dramatization screen comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels having cross pieces at their upper and lower ends, upwardly opening lamp boxes removably interfitted upon the upper cross pieces, electric wiring carried by the lamp boxes and including separable fasteners for interconnecting the lamp boxes in series, and detachable feet engaging the lower cross pieces of the panels for supporting the screen in upright position.

ERNEST EMIL HENRY NELSON. 

